White & Case taps Ropes & Gray for private equity heavyweight

White & Case has added private equity partner Helen Croke to its London office, continuing a run of strategic hires as it looks to deepen its sponsor bench.

Croke joins from Ropes & Gray, where she spent nearly a decade after moving from Travers Smith in 2016. She’s one of the best-known names in the City for sponsor advice, and counts the likes of Bridgepoint, 3i, ICG, Nordic Capital and Oakley Capital among her longstanding clients.

Her arrival is the latest move by White & Case to grow its private equity practice across EMEA. The firm has advised on a number of high-profile mandates over the past year, including EQT’s sale of skincare brand E45 maker Karo Healthcare to KKR in April.

"Private equity is a strategic priority for White & Case", said firm chair Heather McDevitt, noting growing global demand for deal support. She added: "Helen’s experience and capabilities further strengthen our services in the UK, EMEA and internationally."

The firm’s global private equity industry group posted a "standout" year in 2024, helping push the firm's revenue past $3 billion for the first time.

Croke is the latest in a string of private equity and funds-focused hires in Europe. In London alone, White & Case recently added partners Henry Birch (from Kirkland) and three funds partners - Emily Brown, Alex Chauvin and Lavanya Raghavan - from Ropes & Gray. Hires in Milan and Paris have further bolstered its cross-border bench.